During a weekend visit from my girlfriend, Emme (who is also an aspiring ultrarunner), we plan to head out for a Sunday morning training run. Emme's training for her fist full marathon, in Columbus on October 20. And I'm training to race, period. Before this run, my previous max length was 8.75 miles in 1:40, a week before. So, I'm aiming for 15 to see how well I can handle it.
Up until a week before this, I didn't even own a suitable pair of road running shoes, as I'd been nursing along my Asics Gel Venture 3's. So I'd ordered a pair of Asics (yep, my favorite brand) Nimbus 14's in bright neon yellow (Ow!) from Running Warehouse, because they were cheaper and rated as a good neutral shoe. That said, the color quickly grew on me as there is a lot of bright yellow running clothing available to match! I'd taken the shoes out on a couple break-in runs totaling 10 miles, so they were ready to go.
North Park, Allegheny County has a very nice paved running loop that follows the roads that circulate the lake. Each lap is a tick over five miles. Emme was going for her first 20 mile run ever. I'd secretly and ambitiously planned to hit 20 also, if I could swing it. ;)
Result:
15 miles, in a fairly easy 2:41 - which isn't bad, considering that was the first time I'd ever run that far. That said, my secret plan of 20 was struck down with bowel problems, which started at the end of lap two (mile 10) and eventually lasted well into the evening. I suspected a large milkshake was the cause from the night before, which I obviously shouldn't have had. All told, I'd reached my official goal and Emme reached hers. We celebrated by going out for burgers before my stomach pains got too bad and had me laid up (not in the good way) during the evening. Luckily I was able to drive her home late in the evening so I didn't have to wait until 5am before work in the morning to do so.
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